Since the program began in 1992, USPS employees and customers have contributed more than 1.1 billion pounds of non-perishable food — including pet food — making this annual food drive the nation’s largest one-day campaign to collect food for distribution to those in need.
Last year, letter and rural carriers collected 70.2 million pounds of food, making it the eighth consecutive food drive to surpass 70 million pounds. Preliminary reports indicate that this year won’t be an exception. The total weight of all the food collected during this year’s drive will be released within the next few weeks after the amounts are verified and tallied.
Let's take a look at food drive photos submitted from around the South Florida District:
TREASURE COAST POST OFFICES
Photos: Ann Marie Tighe
A/Customer Relations Coordinator Ann Marie Tighe reports a successful food drive at Treasure Coast Post Offices. Photos below are of incoming food, volunteers, retired letter carriers and postal employees at several Treasure Coast Post Offices. West Palm Beach Postmaster Richard Fermo and NALC 1690 officials showed their support at several locations. Food collected in Martin County was sent to the House of Hope. Food collected at the St Lucie County and Jensen Beach Post Offices was donated to the Treasure Coast Food Bank.
L to R: Retired Port St Lucie Letter Carriers Frank Morales and Gary Ellis helped load food donations onto a flat trailer .
CORAL SPRINGS BRANCH
By Rose Mannisto, A/Manager, Customer Service
On Saturday, May 12, Americans gave an abundance of food to those in need for the 20th annual
Those were the compassionate thoughts of letter carriers
at the Coral Springs Branch Post Office. At a service talk the previous days
before the food drive. The employees spoke of how fortunate they all were to be
working everyday. The food drive was apparently very important to the employees
at the Coral Springs Post Office.
In order to celebrate our day of “Giving Back” and
helping our community, the Coral
Springs team decided to have a cook-out. The manager and
supervisors got together and purchased hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon and
chips. Letter Carrier Franklin Rinzler donated a new grill and the NALC Shop Steward Tom Latocha generously supplied all the soft drinks and water. Other
carriers brought in potato salad and cookies. Some of the carriers made
arrangements for their teenage children to earn service hours by assisting with
unloading the trucks that were filled with food.
The morning of the food drive started with excitement.
Clerks; carriers were privileged to be part of such a great group of
generous individuals.
As each carrier returned with their truckloads of food,
they were greeted by the volunteers from the local church who were thrilled to
assist in accepting the groceries.
At the end of the day, the large U-Haul was filled with
food. The volunteers and postal employees were able to enjoy a nice afternoon
with an appetizing cookout. The kindness each person showed to one another was
magnificent.
A/Manager, Customer Service Rose Mannisto (center) is proud of her Coral Springs team. Left to Right: Terry Paulson's son, Keith
Freeman; Terry Paulson; Jessica Barco; Barrett Siegal; Tisha Berrian; Rose
Mannisto; Tom Latocha; Josephine Oliveras; Roberto Rodriguez; D. Nugen; and Jessica
Barco's son. Rose Mesenger captured the food drive with her camera:
Volunteer takes a well-deserved break after loading this truck in record time!
Terry Paulson cheerfully delivers the mail and picks up canned goods in the neighborhood ...
... and enjoys a refreshing lemonade from local entrepreneurs on her route.
Coral Springs Letter Carrier John Donato is overwhelmed with joy after delivering mail and collecting canned goods in the hot sun and then unloading a truckload of donated food back at the Post Office.
Letter Carrier Franklin Rinzlet is pleased with the volume of canned goods collected on his route. Franklin donated the use of his grill for the cookout at the Coral Springs Post Office.
KEY LARGO POST OFFICE
Key Largo Letter Carrier Mary Mendez displays canned soup from Campbell's, one of several food drive sponsors this year. The food drive was a huge success as carriers collected approximately 12,000 pounds of food according to Rural Letter Carrier Cindy Smith. Photo: Cindy Smith
Key Largo Supervisor Gil Trevino Pastor Kerry Foote, and Carriers Susan Anderson and Jermira
Robinson are pleased with the results of the 2012 food drive. Photo: Cindy Smith
PALM BEACH GARDENS POST OFFICE
West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator LuAnn Warner helps load food onto trucks and takes the photos below to capture the 20th anniversary of the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Her photo was taken by West Palm Beach Postmaster Richard Fermo.
West Palm Beach Customer "Charity" is grateful for food donations to help feed her family.
Volunteer from collecting agency, "Feeding South Florida" (L) and Palm Beach Gardens Letter Carrier Charles Phipps (R) work together to unload the carrier's collection of food from his route.
Palm Beach Gardens Letter Carrier/NALC 1690 Shop Steward Starr Hunter is very dedicated to the cause and helps with publicity leading up to and including the day of the food drive.
Palm Beach Gardens Letter Carrier Doug George is all smiles as he returns from his route with several flat containers of canned goods.
St. Vincent De Paul Church volunteer helps sort the incoming onslaught of food from the carriers.
Palm Beach Gardens Letter Carrier Ed Santowski has participated in the NALC Food Drive for all twenty years. But he says this will be his last food drive; after 26 years, he is retiring in a month!
West Palm Beach representative prepares to kick off at the Holy Name of Jesus Church. Front L to R: West Palm Beach NALC Officials Brian Debbe and Rick Abbarno. Back Row in bed of truck: West Palm Beach NALC Representative Starr Hunter and West Palm Beach Postmaster Rich Fermo.
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